temperamental

adjective

ˌtem-p(ə-)rə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce temperamental (audio)
Definition of temperamentalnext
1
as in moody
frequently influenced by moods and especially bad moods one of those temperamental actresses who can make life difficult for everyone around her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly stock prices have been pretty temperamental lately, often fluctuating wildly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of temperamental All the while, the solar panel sat off to one side against the car, topping up the power in dribs and drabs as the temperamental Melbourne weather allowed. — Mike McRae 04, New Atlas, 5 July 2026 But the temperamental Lanza dropped out after recording his songs, and British actor Edmund Purdom acted his role and mouthed the songs. — ABC News, 26 June 2026 The machine's temperamental nature began to bother her. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 24 June 2026 Ambition meets heart as the temperamental Moon in your 10th House of Career conjoins warrior Mars there, sharpening visibility and focus. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for temperamental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temperamental
  1. moody
  2. volatile
  3. impulsive
  4. unpredictable
  5. unstable
Adjective
  • The lighting is somewhere between fantasy and noir, all moody shadows and otherworldly mists, precise and in no way naturalistic.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • The Odyssey tweaks Homer’s classic story into a moodier version of the swords-and-sandals epic—and represents a rare swerve away from tired sequels, cheap remakes, and creaky cinematic universes.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
Definition of moody
Adjective
  • The South Korean benchmark now hovers at around 6,700, having experienced volatile swings due to the heavy dependence on heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 24 July 2026
  • As a politician of some experience, she is presumably unfazed by the sorts of challenges that come with governing a volatile section of her volatile country.
    — Kevin Sieff, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • Although 58 percent of Gen Z shoppers are just as likely to make impulsive purchases as Millennials (57 percent), Zoomers tend to overspend more annually than their slightly older counterparts, by $541 versus $373, respectively.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 14 July 2026
  • In both cases, the act was an impulsive, existential response with no single cause.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026
Definition of impulsive
Adjective
  • These maps account for a range of variables, including cargo-shipping routes, surface currents, wind patterns, and the unpredictable drift of objects at sea.
    — Alexander Klose, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
  • Much of Crown Center is indoors or covered, which is a big plus for when weather becomes unpredictable.
    — Taylor Haught, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • Ghosh is right to argue that naturalistic narratives are not up to the urgent task of depicting our unstable moment.
    — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
  • Criminals and dangerously unstable individuals who illegally obtain firearms are.
    — Eric "Doc" Stelnicki, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026
Definition of unstable

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Cite this Entry

“Temperamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temperamental. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on temperamental

Nglish: Translation of temperamental for Spanish Speakers

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